Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Wang, Tamlin M. Pavelsky, Ethan D. Kyzivat, Fenix Garcia-Tigreros, Erika Podest, Fangfang Yao, Xiao Yang, Shuai Zhang, Conghe Song, Theodore Langhorst, Wayana Dolan, Martin R. Kurek, Merritt E. Harlan, Laurence C. Smith, David E. Butman, Robert G. M. Spencer, Colin J. Gleason, Kimberly P. Wickland, Robert G. Striegl, Daniel L. Peters
Summary: In this study, a cloud-based workflow was built to map wetland vegetation communities in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), Canada, using high-resolution multi-sensor datasets. The results show that classifications derived from AVIRIS-NG have higher accuracies than UAVSAR or LiDAR for mapping wetland vegetation communities. Combining information from multiple sensors can improve classification accuracy, and the best performing model achieved an overall accuracy of 93.5%.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Schwarz, Floris van Rees, Danghan Xie, Maarten G. Kleinhans, Barend van Maanen
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different recruitment strategies of mangroves and salt marshes on channel network properties. The research finds that salt marshes have more extensive channel networks and shorter over-marsh flow paths compared to mangrove systems. Laboratory experiments support these findings, indicating that recruitment strategies play a crucial role in channel development.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sandra Lubinska-Mielinska, Zygmunt Kacki, Dariusz Kaminski, Julien Petillon, Christiane Evers, Agnieszka Piernik
Summary: Inland salt marshes in Europe are unique and valuable habitats, but there is still a lack of understanding regarding their vegetation classification and environmental requirements. In order to investigate the relationship between vegetation and environmental factors, researchers collected a database of vegetation plots from various European countries and analyzed the data using statistical and multivariate methods. They identified nine classes of vegetation, including two typical salt-marsh vegetation classes, and found significant differences in species preferences and environmental factors among these classes. This information has direct implications for the sustainable management of salt marshes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liang Geng, Andrea D'Alpaos, Alessandro Sgarabotto, Zheng Gong, Stefano Lanzoni
Summary: The formation and development of tidal channels and salt marshes are controlled by complex interactions, with vegetation growth playing a key role. Vegetation promotes the development of channel networks, but sea level rise restricts the extension of salt marshes.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sinead M. Crotty, Daniele Pinton, Alberto Canestrelli, Hallie S. Fischman, Collin Ortals, Nicholas R. Dahl, Sydney Williams, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Christine Angelini
Summary: This study reveals that the mussel, Geukensia demissa, has a significant effect on saltmarsh accretion in the southeastern US, with deposition being 2.8-10.7 times higher on mussel aggregations compared to other marsh locations. The study also predicts that mussels drive substantial changes to the magnitude and spatial patterning of accretion at marsh domain scales. Moreover, a manipulative experiment involving over 200,000 mussels shows that the faunal engineer has a much larger impact on relative marsh accretion rates than expected. Therefore, there is a critical need for empirical, experimental, and modeling work to understand the importance of faunal engineers in modifying the persistence of coastal ecosystems globally.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ines J. Castro, Joao M. Dias, Carina L. Lopes
Summary: Salt marshes are important wetlands facing deterioration and loss. This study evaluates the accuracy of different satellite data in determining the shoreline of narrow and fringing salt marshes. The results show that Landsat and Sentinel-2 data can accurately describe the salt marsh shoreline. The study also highlights the retreat of salt marshes in ilhavo and S. Jacinto channels, while the salt marsh in Mira channel has shown some advancement after 2000.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas E. Kutcher, Kenneth B. Raposa
Summary: Tidal restoration efforts in salt marshes have led to some biological recovery, but incomplete restoration is common due to inundation stress and eutrophication. This study highlights the importance of long-term biological monitoring and the use of rapid assessment data to provide valuable context for restoration findings and guide future restoration practices.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Peter Mueller, Lars Kutzbach, Thomas J. Mozdzer, Emil Jespersen, Donald C. Barber, Franziska Eller
Summary: This study investigates the role of soil inorganic carbon in coastal ecosystems and finds that it makes a substantial contribution to the total soil carbon stock. Contrary to the hypothesis, the study shows that inorganic carbon stocks increase along the successional gradient, possibly due to other processes like trapping of sedimentary carbonates and calcium carbonate precipitation.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Zezheng Liu, Olivier Gourgue, Sergio Fagherazzi
Summary: This study compared the geometric properties of tidal channel networks in salt marshes along the coasts of the United States and China, finding significant differences based on vegetation dominance. Physical parameters were better at explaining these differences, with mean marsh elevation and tidal range as key variables. Biotic parameters had a weaker effect on the network geometry, indicating the importance of physical processes in shaping tidal channel networks.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Orencio Duran Vinent, Ellen R. Herbert, Daniel J. Coleman, Joshua D. Himmelstein, Matthew L. Kirwan
Summary: Research shows that the threshold for marsh fragmentation along coastal areas is primarily related to tidal range, and sediment supply is relevant only when tides are enough to transport sediment to the marsh interior. Organic matter accumulation controls the threshold of relative sea level rise in marsh ecosystems, explaining the fragmentation of microtidal marshes.
Article
Remote Sensing
Pengjie Tao, Kai Tan, Tao Ke, Shuai Liu, Weiguo Zhang, Jianru Yang, Xiangjie Zhu
Summary: In this study, vegetation fairy circles in intertidal salt marshes are detected and quantitatively characterized using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR technology. By analyzing the reflectance information and eliminating the specular effect, the geometric properties of these fairy circles are successfully recognized and quantified. The results suggest that UAV LiDAR is a promising technique for studying and analyzing fairy circles from a holistic perspective.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Anna Elizabeth Lovgren Graversen, Gary T. Banta, Pere Masque, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: Climate change has created a demand for solutions counteracting greenhouse gas emissions, including the expansion of natural carbon-sequestration habitats like salt marshes. A study on Danish salt marshes showed that grazing had a minimal effect on carbon stocks and sequestration rates, with grazed sites actually having higher carbon densities in surface layers. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of grazing on carbon sequestration and to develop effective blue carbon management strategies for salt marshes.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Qin Chen, Ling Zhu, Yan Ding, Navid Jafari, Hongqing Wang, Bradley D. Johnson
Summary: Coastal regions are facing increasing flood risks due to climate change. Coastal wetlands and vegetation are effective in mitigating coastal hazards by creating drag force and dampening storm surges and wind waves. A species-independent relationship between drag coefficient (C-D) and Reynolds number (Re) is proposed and validated, allowing for accurate wave attenuation prediction in salt marshes.
COASTAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Sun, Jialin Li, Yongxue Liu, Yongchao Liu, Ruiqing Liu
Summary: This study proposed a vegetation classification method for salt marshes using time-series data derived from Sentinel-2, achieving high accuracy in plant species classification by extracting phenological parameters. The results showed unique phenological characteristics among the six plant species, especially with Phragmites australis exhibiting an advanced green-up season and Spartina alterniflora senescing later than native plants in the region.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stephen G. Chastain, Karen E. Kohfeld, Marlow G. Pellatt, Carolina Olid, Maija Gailis
Summary: Tidal salt marshes are highly efficient carbon sinks, but their potential for mitigating global warming remains uncertain due to inadequate sampling, inaccurate area estimations, and inappropriate dating methods. This study provides the first estimates of organic carbon storage and accumulation rates in salt marshes along the Pacific coast of Canada, revealing relatively low carbon stocks but higher accumulation rates compared to global averages, with significant variations between high and low marsh habitats.
Article
Water Resources
Xiaohe Zhang, Cathleen E. Jones, Talib Oliver-Cabrera, Marc Simard, Sergio Fagherazzi
Summary: This study utilizes high spatial-resolution and rapid repeat interferometric data from the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) to measure and simulate the sub-canopy water-level change resulting from tide propagation into wetlands. By calibrating model parameters, the accuracy and realism of the simulation results are improved. The study finds that in areas with dense wetland grasses, the true ground elevation can be inferred using UAVSAR.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Elisabeth Steel, Chris Paola, Austin J. Chadwick, Jayaram Hariharan, Paola Passalacqua, Zhongyuan Xu, Holly A. Michael, Hannah Brommecker, Elizabeth A. Hajek
Summary: Understanding the distribution and connectivity of subsurface sandbodies is crucial for characterizing groundwater aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs. Analyzing river networks from time-series imagery can provide valuable information for constraining the shallow subsurface. Channel bathymetry and river kinematics have minimal impact on the connectivity of sand bodies, with subsurface architecture primarily controlled by channel location and kinematics.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gerard Salter, Paola Passalacqua, Kyle Wright, Sarah Feil, Daniel Jensen, Marc Simard, Michael P. Lamb
Summary: This study developed a method for accurately inferring deposition/erosion rates in deltas using remote sensing technology and hydrodynamic models. The results showed that this method can reveal coherent spatial patterns of land change across wide areas in deltas.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Giovanna Nordio, Ryan Frederiks, Mary Hingst, Joel Carr, Matt Kirwan, Keryn Gedan, Holly Michael, Sergio Fagherazzi
Summary: Recent studies have mostly focused on the impact of large tropical cyclones on shorelines, disregarding the effects of less intense but more frequent events. This study analyzes the influence of offshore tropical storm Melissa on groundwater along the North America Atlantic coast. The findings show that Melissa led to a significant increase in groundwater level and specific conductivity, with a longer recovery time for conductivity. The study suggests that the increasing frequency of moderate storms will have a significant ecological impact on vegetated shorelines.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Carmine Donatelli, Paola Passalacqua, Kyle Wright, Gerard Salter, Michael P. Lamb, Daniel Jensen, Sergio Fagherazzi
Summary: Deltas are threatened by sea-level rise, sediment starvation, and subsidence. Remote sensing can be used to estimate flow velocities in deltas by leveraging the synoptic information offered by the technology. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal variability in flow velocity, which is crucial for forecasting the fate of these fragile ecosystems.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Giovanna Nordio, Sergio Fagherazzi
Summary: Sediment transport on salt marsh platforms is mainly caused by storm events and high tides, while at high latitudes, ice-rafting acts as a secondary mechanism. A winter storm in 2018 resulted in a large sediment deposition in the Great Marsh in Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts, USA, mainly due to ice-rafting, which buried the marsh vegetation. The recovery of plant vegetation in sediment patches was observed, with different species showing varying responses. Overall, the deposition of sediment had a positive effect on marsh vegetation growth and restoration.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhongyuan Xu, Mahfuzur R. Khan, Kazi Matin Ahmed, Anwar Zahid, Jayaram Hariharan, Paola Passalacqua, Elisabeth Steel, Austin Chadwick, Chris Paola, Steven L. L. Goodbred Jr, Anner Paldor, Holly A. Michael
Summary: Groundwater is the primary water source in the Bengal Delta, but it is under threat from contamination. By using surface information to model subsurface features, the predictions of groundwater flow can be improved. The land surface features in active deltas play a significant role in evaluating groundwater vulnerability to contamination.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
I. R. B. Reeves, L. J. Moore, K. Valentine, S. Fagherazzi, M. L. Kirwan
Summary: Barrier coastlines and their associated ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes. A new coupled model framework is used to investigate how sediment exchange influences the migration of ecosystem boundaries and extent over time. Landward barrier migration is found to be the main cause of back-barrier marsh loss, while periods of stability contribute to marsh recovery. Surprisingly, undeveloped barriers are largely insensitive to sea-level rise due to increased landward migration offsetting marsh edge erosion.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danial Khojasteh, Milad Haghani, Robert J. Nicholls, Hamed Moftakhari, Mahmood Sadat-Noori, Katharine J. Mach, Sergio Fagherazzi, Athanasios T. Vafeidis, Edward Barbier, Abbas Shamsipour, William Glamore
Summary: A bibliographic meta-analysis of 15,000 research articles revealed that sea-level rise research expanded 36-fold between 1990 and 2021, with a decrease in pure science and an increase in topics related to impacts, risks, and adaptation.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Matthew Preisser, Paola Passalacqua, R. Patrick Bixler, Stephen Boyles
Summary: Government and non-governmental agencies are making efforts to quantify the disproportionate effects of climate risk on vulnerable populations and create more resilient communities. This study addresses the limitation of using sociodemographic based indices to measure vulnerability and proposes a model based on open-source data to assess individuals' access to critical resources during and after a flood event. The results show that the most vulnerable households are the least resilient and experience the largest shifts in metric values, while the least vulnerable quarter of the population carries the smallest burdens. The model developed can assist emergency planning stakeholders in identifying households that require specific resources in real-time.
FRONTIERS IN WATER
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Cortese, D. J. Jensen, M. Simard, S. Fagherazzi
Summary: Vegetation plays a crucial role in controlling soil accretion in coastal wetlands, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can be used to monitor wetland health and degradation. This study used NDVI time-series and in situ measurements to develop models for mapping organic mass accumulation rates and salinity in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, USA.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Olivier Gourgue, Jim van Belzen, Christian Schwarz, Wouter Vandenbruwaene, Joris Vanlede, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Sergio Fagherazzi, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Johan van de Koppel, Stijn Temmerman
Summary: This paper applies a biogeomorphic model to assess the development and resilience of restored tidal marshes. The model demonstrates that restored tidal marshes can keep pace with sea level rise and their resilience is more sensitive to sediment availability. Restoration design options can steer marsh resilience and affect biogeomorphic development. This study showcases the importance of biogeomorphic modeling in supporting restoration design for sustainable tidal-marsh development.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2022)
